Modular multi-piece figures from rearrangeable elements and kits allowing construction of same

ABSTRACT

Toy figures assembled from components including ball and socket attributes which allow for movement between the components, which allows the user to position the various portions of the figures into desired positions. A kit of components including ball and socket attributes which allow for assembly into a large number of different types of figures or structures of vastly different types and shapes.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation in part of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 11/324,994 to Bevirt, filed Jan. 3, 2006. This applicationclaims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/068,229 toBevirt, filed Mar. 4, 2008.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to modular toy elements which can beassembled and arranged into figures, and to kits with a variety of suchelements.

2. Description of Related Art

Modeling kits typically comprise a plurality of pieces of differenttypes. A structural item may be formed by interconnecting variouspieces. Modeling kits are used by children, hobby enthusiasts,educators, and the like. The assembly of a model can used as aneducational tool to teach school age children.

A versatile modeling kit would allow for the creation of a variety ofitems, such as action figures, animals, structures, vehicles and otheritems from a fixed plurality of items that could be used in thesedifferent applications.

What is called for is a modeling kit comprising pieces that may easilyassembled into a variety of different types of items. What is alsocalled for are figures assembled from such pieces that are easilyassembled and disassembled, and which allow for motion between thepieces if such motion is desired by the user.

SUMMARY

Toy figures assembled from components including ball and socketattributes which allow for movement between the components, which allowsthe user to position the various portions of the figures into desiredpositions. A kit of components including ball and socket attributeswhich allow for assembly into a large number of different types offigures or structures of vastly different types and shapes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an action figure with a plurality of interconnectedconnectors according to some embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a partially assembled figure with a plurality ofinterconnected connectors according to some embodiments of the presentinvention.

FIG. 3A-B illustrate features for action figures with connectorsaccording to some embodiments of the present invention.

FIGS. 4A-I illustrate different pieces of a modeling kit according tosome embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates a structure made from different pieces of a modelingkit according to some embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates a structure made from different pieces of a modelingkit according to some embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 7 illustrates a structure made from different pieces of a modelingkit according to some embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 8 illustrates a structure made from different pieces of a modelingkit according to some embodiments of the present invention.

FIGS. 9A-E illustrate different pieces of a modeling kit according tosome embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 10 illustrates illustrate different pieces of a modeling kitaccording to some embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 11 illustrates illustrate different pieces of a modeling kitaccording to some embodiments of the present invention.

FIGS. 12A-B illustrate action figures according to some embodiments ofthe present invention.

FIG. 13 illustrates a toy figure according to some embodiments of thepresent invention.

FIG. 14 illustrates a toy figure according to some embodiments of thepresent invention.

FIG. 14 illustrates a toy figure according to some embodiments of thepresent invention.

FIG. 16 illustrates a toy figure according to some embodiments of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In some embodiments of the present invention, as seen in FIG. 1, amulti-piece toy FIG. 10 is comprised of a plurality of pieces. Thepieces are constructed such that they may be easily assembled anddisassembled. The pieces are also constructed such that pieces may bemoved positionally relative to each other. The pieces may have a balland socket construction using internal socket receiving cavities andsocket engaging end surfaces. The inner surface of the an internalsocket receiving cavity is adapted to fit over the socket engaging endsurface of another connector, or of another piece with a similar socketengaging end surface.

The toy FIG. 10 is seen as being comprised of a plurality of pieces. Thepieces may be part of a kit of pieces adapted to be easily assembledinto a variety of figures or structures. The kit of pieces is adapted toallow for assembly into such a variety of figures or structures by theuse of a basic selection of pieces which allow for a variety of use tocreate many underlying structures, and then for completion using avariety of less generic specialized pieces for completion of thefigures, such as head, feet, and the like.

In the case of the toy FIG. 10 seen in FIG. 1, the pieces 16, 11 used inthe arms and legs, and the pieces 15, 17 used as the shoulders and hips,are examples of more generic pieces which can be used in a multitude ofways. The more specialized pieces, such as the head 14, the hands 13,and the feet 12, allow the user to complete an underlying bodyconstructed from the more generic pieces into a more complete toyfigure. In this way, a kit of pieces can be utilized to allow for analmost endless variety of objects to be created.

FIG. 2 illustrates an underlying body according to some embodiments ofthe present invention. The underlying body is similar in the assembly ofits components to the body underlying the toy figure of FIG. 1 with theexception of the components 18 at the base of the legs. Instead ofattaching on foot to the end of each leg, as was done in FIG. 1, a setof claws, for example, could be added to the base of the legs on each ofthe balls available for mounting on the components 18 at the base of thelegs. As seen here, the use of easily assembled and disassembled pieceswhich utilize a ball and socket construction allows for a multitude ofassembly options.

FIGS. 3A-B illustrate some of the more specialized pieces which can beused in conjunction with the generic pieces in the assembly of variouscharacter objects. The hand 20 and the foot 21 are seen with socketengaging end surfaces, although they may also use an internal socketreceiving cavity in some embodiments, and the kit of pieces may haveboth types of joint types available.

FIGS. 4A-I illustrate component pieces which may be part of a characterobject, structure, or part of a kit of components according to someembodiments of the present invention. An extension component 11 may havea ball on one end and a socket on the other end, or may have a ball oneach end, or a socket on each end. A star component may have balls onall four ends 22, or sockets on all four ends 23, or a combination ofthese features. A triangle connector 26, 27 may have balls on all threecorners, or another distribution of end features. A T-connector 28, 30may have balls or sockets in line, with a ball or socket at a rightangle in between the ends.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the wall thicknesses ofthe internal socket receiving cavity or the socket engaging end surface,or both, are constructed so that an interference fit remains after theball and socket joint connectors are connected.

FIG. 5 illustrates another useful aspect of the components of a kitaccording to some embodiments of the present invention. As seen, a wallstructure 40 has been created out of a plurality of different types ofcomponent pieces. The component pieces used as seen above for theassembly of a toy figure, such as an action character, can also be usedto create structure, such as a wall. The ease in which the ball andsocket connectors can be attached, separated, re-attached, and assembledallows for a multitude of end uses for the component pieces. As evident,a kit of such component pieces would allow a user the flexibility tocreate and modify a multitude of toy figures, as well as structures.

FIGS. 6, 7, and 8 illustrate underlying bodies 50, 60, 70 which havebeen constructed out of the aforementioned components. The underlyingbodies 50, 60, 70 may be completed with more specialized hand, feet,wing, and head components to complete an action figure.

FIGS. 9A-E illustrate more component pieces that may be part of a kit ofcomponent pieces according to some embodiments of the present invention.FIG. 9A illustrates an offset swivel which may allow for motion of aportion of a figure relative to another. FIG. 9B illustrates a threeinto one component which may be used structurally, or as a claw in anaction figure. FIG. 9C illustrates an angle component. FIG. 9Dillustrates a component adapted for use in making a wall or otherstructure.

In some embodiments of the present invention, as seen in FIG. 10, avariety of specialty components are seen which can be used to create aspecialized action figure. An elephant's head 81, tusk 82, tail 84, andfeet 85 are seen. However, given the flexibility allowed the user, thebody of the action figure which may use these specialized components isnot so constrained, that is, may be of specialized or eccentric nature.FIG. 11 illustrates further specialized components, such as lion's heads86, 89, and feet 87, 88.

FIGS. 12A and 12B illustrate an advantage of the kit aspect of thepresent invention. The two action figures of these two Figures aresimilar in that they use the same specialty components, but have beenconstructed using different body components to give a different overalllook to the action figure.

FIGS. 13-16 illustrate other action figures according to someembodiments of the present invention.

As evident from the above description, a wide variety of embodiments maybe configured from the description given herein and additionaladvantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in theart. The invention in its broader aspects is, therefore, not limited tothe specific details and illustrative examples shown and described.Accordingly, departures from such details may be made without departingfrom the spirit or scope of the applicant's general invention.

1. A character object comprising; a torso having a plurality ofarticulated components, said articulated components having ball andsocket connectors; a plurality of appendages, wherein each appendage ispivotally connected to the torso, wherein each appendage is pivotallyconnected to the torso using a ball and socket connector.
 2. Thecharacter object of claim 1 wherein said appendages are adapted to beeasily removed from said torso.
 3. The character object of claim 1wherein said plurality of appendages comprise articulated components,said articulated components having ball and socket connectors.
 4. Thecharacter object of claim 3 wherein said appendages have a specialtyconnector, said specialty connector coming from the list of: foot, hand,wing, claw.
 5. An assembly kit for toy use comprising: a plurality ofextension elements, said extension elements having a ball or socketfeature on each end, said extension elements being straight elements;and a plurality of triangle connector elements, said connector elementshaving three attachment features, said attachment features having a ballor socket feature on their ends; wherein the ball features of saidextension elements and said triangle connector elements are adapted tofit with the socket features of said triangle connector elements andsaid extension elements.
 6. The assembly kit of claim 5 wherein some ofsaid extension elements comprise an element body, said element bodycomprising: a first end portion; a second end portion; and a socketengaging end surface at said first end portion, said socket engaging endsurface being the external surface at said first end portion; and aninternal socket receiving cavity at said second end portion.
 7. Theassembly kit of claim 5 further comprising a plurality of specialtyconnectors, said plurality of specialty connectors comprising: footconnectors; and head connectors.
 23. The assembly kit of claim 22wherein said plurality of specialty connectors further comprises tailconnectors.